by SUE GLEITER Of The Patriot-News

Saturday June 06, 2009, 5:00 AM

He's not raunchy like some comedians and that's exactly what sets Brian Regan apart in the world of stand-up.

This 50-year-old father of two and Florida native refrains from off-color humor and instead packs them in with his own style of observational humor. His fans span the generations from kids to senior cititzens.

by JOHN LUCIEW, The Patriot-News

Friday June 05, 2009, 5:12 PM

JOHN C. WHITEHEAD, The Patriot-NewsPhillippe Cousteau, grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, was in Harrisburg Friday, because he will be shooting an IMAX film on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, including the Susquehanna River.

Susquehanna Valley, get ready for your close-up.

The region is expected to have a starring role in a 3-D IMAX film that wants to inspire people to safeguard the Chesapeake Bay watershed, of which the river is the main artery.

But its not just the Susquehanna River that will have a role in the $6 million film, which will feature the talents of Discovery Channel and Animal Planet oceanographer Philippe Cousteau, grandson of Jacques Cousteau.

by John Firestone

Friday June 05, 2009, 2:02 PM

The little art adventures always add up. Awhile back I had blogged about the Art-O-mat machines which can be found in various places all over the US. There are even a few in Pennsylvania, although central PA is yet to be graced with the presence. On many occasions when I go to New York City I stop by one of the locations and spend a couple of bucks on some neat little art.

On one trip I put my five dollars in and got this little eggplant art. Recently I was told that this little eggplant got sorta famous. The artist, Laura Gentry, has a clip on her blog from the Rachel Ray show that shows my little eggplant on top of the machine.

by The Associated Press

Friday June 05, 2009, 9:13 AM

www.sight-sound.comLiving Waters Theatre in Lancaster County is closing.

LANCASTER, Pa. -- A southeastern Pennsylvania theater that has presented biblical-based plays for three decades will shut its doors after the 2010 season so the owner can focus on shows at two larger sites.

The 700-seat Living Waters Theatre will be closed. It opened in 1976 as the Sight & Sound Auditorium. As its productions gained popularity, the owners -- Sight & Sound Theatres -- built the larger 2,000-seat Millennium Theatre nearby. They also own a theater in Branson, Mo.

Both of Sight & Sound's Lancaster County theaters have seen declining ticket sales as the nation's economy has struggled. In February, Sight & Sound cut 40 jobs, which affected workers at Millennium and Living Waters.The company hopes to move the 21 full-time employees from Living Waters to the Millennium Theatre.

by The Patriot-News

Friday June 05, 2009, 6:50 AM

PAUL CHAPLIN, The Patriot-News/2008Chester Dlugolecki, 62, of Port Washington, Long Island, New York, cleans his 1965 Mercury Comet during the 2008 Carlisle All-Ford National car show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds. Dlugolecki, the car's original owner, paid $2,700 for the vehicle and now estimates the value at about $27,000.

The Carlisle Fairgrounds will host the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals Friday through Sunday. Hours will be 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 7 a.m.- 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 Friday-Saturday and $7 Sunday. Four day passes are $30.

Organizers say the show is the largest Ford show in the country, with displays of Mustangs and the 2010 Ford models. Ford is bringing in new models for show-goers to test drive at the Carlisle Expo Center, one block away from the fairgrounds including the Ford Raptor, Taurus SHO, Mustang GT500 and the 2010 Fusion Hybrid, a fuel-efficient mid-sized sedan.

Expect delays around Carlisle during the show, on Interstate 81, Route 11 and Route 34.

by ERICA DOLSON, Of The Patriot-News

Wednesday June 03, 2009, 5:32 PM

Vicki's Tap Pups, a tap dancing group with locations in Lemoyne, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey, raised about $6,500 worth of donations for the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg's Domestic Violence Shelter this year, spokesman Brian Riordan said.

The Tap Pups created a gift registry at Bed, Bath and Beyond to build "comfort bundles," a package of sheets, towels, blankets and pillows for victims of domestic abuse. Their annual spring show, held Sunday, May 31, brought in an audience of roughly 1200 people at ticket prices between $12-$15.

With the proceeds from the show, the Tap Pups were able to reach their goal of creating 100 bundles. A team of Tap Pups plans to deliver the bundles and do some basic repairs to the shelter, Riordan said.

Gosselin rejects the idea that his children are being exploited by the TV production. "I don't even want to use that word, because I think it's ridiculous," he told People magazine. "We have healthy, happy, well-adjusted, educated kids. They're bouncing around and having a good time."

by CHARLES THOMPSON, Of The Patriot-News

Wednesday June 03, 2009, 11:14 AM

DAN GLEITER, The Patriot-NewsThe Great Escape 14 theater at the Harrisburg Mall in Swatara Township.

A legislative report on the Rendell administration's expanded film production tax credit program indicates the state's $75 million in annual tax credits paid to movie and television producers is paying for itself in jobs and spin-off economic activity.

The credits have been a source of political controversy since Rendell made them a late demand in his 2007-08 budget plan, with some fiscal conservatives calling them a handout to the Democratic governor's Hollywood friends.

But the new report, released today by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, suggests film shoots in the state produced a total economic impact of $524 million in their first year, including nearly 4,000 jobs. When new state and local taxes and fees from all of that related activity are figured in, the actual cost of the credits is largely a wash, the report suggests.

Rendell administration officials are hopeful those findings will be enough to keep the tax credits in the 2009-10 budget adopted later this month.

by SUE GLEITER, Of The Patriot-News

Wednesday June 03, 2009, 2:11 AM

PAUL CHAPLIN, The Patriot-News/2008Brian Berg, 45, and Anita Henry, 46, top right, both of North Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, display Berg's 1971 Ford Pinto drag race car during the 2008 Carlisle All-Ford National car show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds.

This weekend, Carlisle Fairgrounds will be all about Ford, Lincoln and Mercury at the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals with displays of Mustangs and a walk-through of the 2010 Ford models. Ford, in fact, plans a big marketing splash from Thursday-Saturday.

Ford is bringing in new model to test drive along with products, its engineers and celebrities at the Carlisle Expo Center. Take a spin in a Ford and Lincoln-Mercury. You also can walk through the 2010 models including the Ford Raptor, Taurus SHO, newly redesigned Mustang GT500 and the 2010 Fusion Hybrid, a fuel-efficient mid-sized sedan. Fords engineering team will be on hand to answer your questions.

by SUE GLEITER, Of The Patriot-News

Tuesday June 02, 2009, 2:18 AM

The Patriot-News fileBuckwheat Zydeco will perform during the Long's Park Summer Music Series.

No where else is the music so good and free to boot. The 47th annual Long's Park Summer Music Series brings in award winning groups playing zydeco to Celtic, bluegrass, patriotic, blues, folk and rock. The concerts are held in the park's amphitheater 7:30 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 30.

Concertgoers are welcome to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs, but if there's no time to pack up snacks, plenty of purveyors will be selling food. Alcohol is not permitted.

by DAVID N. DUNKLE, Of The Patriot-News

Monday June 01, 2009, 10:22 AM

"Big Bopper Jr." Jay P. Richardson will portray his father, the original BIg Bopper, this week in Gretna Theatre's production of "1959 Dance Party."

Gretna Theatre opens its 2009 summer season with "1959 Dance Party," a salute to rock 'n' roll pioneers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, alias The Big Bopper. The show, which opens Thursday and continues through Sunday, features classic songs such as "That'll Be the Day," "La Bamba" and "Chantilly Lace."

The three musicians died in a plane crash on a winter night in 1959, a tragedy that singer Don McClean later memorialized as "the day the music died" in the song "American Pie." The production stars London's John Meuller as Holly, Ray Anthony as Valens and the Big Bopper's own son, Jay P. Richardson, as his father.

Unlike Gretna's other shows this summer, "Dance Party" is a touring production. Starting June 11 with the musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," the remaining five shows will be strictly Gretna productions, from casting to costumes.